[Background] Cordyceps militaris, a traditional medicinal mushroom, produces a component compound, cordycepin (3’-deoxyadenosine). Cordycepin has been known to have many pharmacological activities including immunological stimulating, anti-cancer, and anti-infection activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of inflammatory mediator’s activity by cordycepin remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigat-ed the effects of cordycepin on the anti- inflammation cascades in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia cells. [Methods] Cordycepin were administered and their effects on LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators and MAP kinases were monitored by Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis. [Result] Cordycepin significantly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and pro- inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a concentration- dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity. Also, cordycepin suppressed inducible NO, synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression on the mRNA and protein level. In addition, cordycepin suppressed NF-κB translocation by blocking IkappaB- α (IκB-α) degradation and inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt, ERK-1/2, JNK, and p38 kinase. Our results indicate that the inhibitory effect of cordycepin on LPS -stimulated inflammatory mediator production in BV2 microglia is associated with the suppression of the NF-κB, Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusion: Anti-inflammatory properties of cordycepin may be useful for treating the inflammatory and deleterious effects of microglial activation in response to LPS stimulation.

본 연구는 산마늘추출물이 과산화지질을 급여한 비만쥐의 지질강하, 항산화효과 및 염증매개물질의 생산에 미치는 영향을 검토했다. 그 결과 혈장 FFA, TG, total cholesterol 및 LDL-cholesterol 농도는 산마늘추출물 처리군 들에서 감소했으며, 혈장HDL-cholesterol 농도는 산마늘추출물 처리군 들에서 증가했다. 간장 내 total cholesterol 농도 및 TG 농도는 산마늘추출물 처리군 들에서 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다. 혈장 및 간장의 TBARS 농도는 산마늘추출물 처리군 모두가 대조군보다 낮은 경향을 보였다. 간장 GSH-Px, SOD 및 CAT활성치모두가 산마늘추출물 처리군 들에서 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 혈장 NO, Ceruloplasmin 및 α1-acid glycoprotein 농도는 산마늘추출물 투여군 들이 대조군보다 낮은 경향을 나타내었다. 이와 같은 결과는 산마늘추출물에 지질강하, 항산화 및 항염증작용에 효과를 나타내는 기능성물질이 내재하고 있음을 시사한다.